Corn, Early And Often Hybrid

Just for home gardeners.

Burpee Exclusive

Sugary Enhancer Hybrid (SE). The SE gene (sugary enhancer) means these varieties will stay sweet and tender for 10-14 days after reaching maturity. No need to isolate from other sweet corn. Have fresh, off-the-stalk corn for weeks with this Burpee yellow sweet corn. It was developed just for the home gardener; it's extra-early and produces 8" ears continuously throughout the early season but not all at the same time. Ears are 2" in diameter with 14-18 rows of kernels. Height 6 ft. Ready to harvest in 64 days. GARDEN HINTS: Plant corn in blocks, at least four rows wide, for cross-pollination and well-filled ears. Grows best in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun per day). Cultivate carefully to avoid damaging surface roots.

Growing Calendars are based on location and growing Zone.Enter your zip to see a calendar for your area:

How to Sow

Growing corn is extremely easy provided you have enough space. Corn is wind-pollinated and SE varieties do not need isolation. Set up more than one row to ensure pollination- a minimum 10-foot by 10-foot area. Isolate varieties when recommended (Sh2's), by planting corn seeds at least 250 feet apart, or select varieties that mature at least 2 weeks apart. Sow corn seed 1' deep, 5 to 6 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart. Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days.

How to Grow

When corn seedlings are 3-5" tall and healthy, thin to 1-foot apart. Give plants 1-2" of water every week. Suckers tend to form at the base of the plants; they help support the stalks and make food for the plant. The stalks may have to be staked in windy areas, but in general they are self-supporting.

Harvesting

The ears are ready to harvest about 17-18 days after the silks appear. Harvest by snapping the ear off the stalk with a quick, twisting motion. Sugar-enhanced hybrids stay sweet for up to 2 weeks after picking, so you do not need to harvest your entire crop as soon as it ripens to avoid starchy, overripe corn. Sugar-enhanced corn is very tender.